Interesting story from a High School in Texas that has offered the IB Diploma program for the past 10 years.

John Tyler Principal To Discuss IB Withdrawal

I’m still not sold that this program is good for our district. Remember, we have one of the best AP programs around and IB will simply cannibalize it as has happened in many districts around the country. Contrary to beliefs of some, this program is not for everyone. It is rigorous and is generally only completed (and attended) by elite students.

Of the 95 diploma candidates Texas’ Tyler High School has had in 10 years, less than half (41) earned IB diplomas.

Lisa Harper, the IB coordinator at Tyler HS states: “If you’re not earning diplomas, what’s the point of the program?”

I’m still disappointed that we continue to pump dollars into this program especially without a vote from our elected school board. An $80k-$200k budget expenditure which also causes a change in curriculum certainly calls for one. I certainly don’t see that as micro-managing.

We have more important issues that need to be addresses at other schools within the district.

On another front, schools around the country are finally catching on to the shortcomings of Newsweek’s H.S. Rankings developed by their education columnist (and IB fanatic) Jay Matthews. The principle behind the rankings are so flawed, that High Schools around the country are begining to write Newsweek in order to boycott the list.

Yes folks IB is all about ‘mission’.

Please read the articles and essays at this website to get the real truth about why you do NOT want IB to take over your school, which is what would eventually be demanded.

Bow NH Fights IB

I am following with great interest the Novi Board of Education’s discussion of an International Baccalaureate program. Every Novi taxpayer should be following this issue closely.

The premise is that an IB program would be good for Novi students – and a “product differentiator” in helping attract additional enrollment to Novi from other school districts. (It should be noted that this same premise was used when Novi Schools agreed to pay big dollars for additional full-day kindergarten classes. Yet, this “product differentiator” has had no significant effect on Novi’s student enrollment).

Clearly, I support investigating the benefits of any new academic program that will benefit Novi students. Recall that we recently cut $3 million from the 07/08 fiscal budget. More cuts are expected in the upcoming school year. During these very tight economic times, we should consider the following:

1. If we add an academic program (IB or anything else), what program(s) needs to be cut to afford this additional expense? Do we eliminate more from special education support services? Cut literary specialists at the elementary level? Layoff more folks from custodial services? Do we finally look at eliminating Block Scheduling from the high school? Do we sell the unused Bosco property?
2. How much does the implementation of IB cost? Shouldn’t we, as taxpayers know how much this program costs before we start training personnel? Why is this issue being fast-tracked through our School Board with little debate? Why is only one trustee asking tough questions (and getting unclear answers)? There was more debate during three board meetings in late 2007 when the issue of webcasting board meetings for the community was discussed (a simple $700/year budget item).

And regarding IB in general, many questions need to be answered. For example:

1. Data indicates that IB programs around the country compete (and in some cases eliminate) Advanced Placement programs at the high school. Is that what Novi wants? I thought we had a premier AP program. Why hurt it?
2. Stand-alone Standard Level (SL) IB courses are not recognized by most universities for college credit. An IB certificate is no more than a participation trophy. You get one for simply taking the IB exam, whether you pass or fail. Is that what we want for our Novi students?
3. Currently, Novi Schools are using Title II-Federal Grant Funds (our tax dollars) to train teachers on the IB program. Is this a good use of our federal funds? Budget dollars are tight. School administrators constantly remind the public about the budget problem. So, could we use these grant funds for a different educational priority – perhaps enhancing reading and writing programs at the elementary level?
4. The IB curriculum is directed by an arm of the United Nations. Is that what Novi wants? I thought Novi taxpayers pay high tax dollars because they want LOCAL CONTROL of their children’s curriculum? Do we need our curriculum approved by a group in Geneva, Switzerland and tests graded by folks in other countries?
5. Why does IB make it hard to obtain guides/syllabi for their courses by charging a fee, while AP course information can be downloaded for free?
6. IB personnel won’t disclose their financial records. Does Novi want to deal with an organization that is so secretive?

The IB curriculum continues to be a controversial topic around the country. I believe that our school board needs to ask tough questions before we proceed with any further funding. As with any major initiative, I expect that our board will indeed put this matter to a vote before moving forward.

Just when you thought you had heard it all . .

The latest car theft ring, doesn’t steal your whole car. If you are a victim you won’t easily see it. You will immediately hear it. When you start your car.

. . They take your catalytic converter.

Seems that car owners need to be on the lookout for suspicious types in parking lots that just “saw off” the Catalytic converters for resale as parts or for the value of their metal components. (Converters contain Platinum among other precious metals).

Favorite targets include large parking lots with freeway access. (Novi has a few of those)

66 Thefts in Troy since July

There is even a business that jumped on the opportunity to fight this crime in Toledo. They market a Catalytic clamp to help deter the crime.

The Cat Clamp

Unbelievable!

From the “what in the world are they thinking” category comes Michigan House Bill 5758. This bill was introduced by Rep. LaMar Lemmons of Detroit. It would require state taxpayers to pay the cost of Detroit school elections.

Maybe he should ask the Detroit Water Department to help subsidize this instead.

You gotta love it!

Link to Oakland Press Article.

A recent article in the Oakland Press touches on the lack of transit opportunities in many suburban communities. The articles state that the major cities all participate in SMART, including Pontiac, Southfield, Troy and Royal Oak. Ferndale, Birmingham and Auburn Hills also participate. Novi does not particpate in SMART, and with 53,000 residents and a tax base exceeding $3 Billion dollars, is still not considered a major City in the County (we get little respect in the newspapers…see comments by Economic Development Czar Doug Smith below).

Coincidentally, we also received an email that spotted this comment online along with many others discussing mass transit in the region….It attempts to make a case for why bus service to Novi and the distant suburbs would benefit Economic Development and the regions residents in general.

“I used to work in a chain restaurant in Novi by the Farmington Hills border. One of the waiters there was from Detroit, and he told me one day that it was a 2 1/2 hour bus ride to get from the D to Novi (He’d take SMART to Farmington Hills and walk the last 5 minutes). I asked him why in God’s name does he come out this far for a job, and he said that you have to come out this far for the best combination of consistent hours and good wages (tips).

This restaurant functioned fine, but we were ALWAYS hiring. You couldn’t get anybody to apply but high schoolers and college-age kids who’d show up hungover to every lunch shift. Where were all the unemployed folk?

Maybe you can get a minimum wage job closer to the D, but these are better jobs. I’d average 13-14 dollars an hour as a waiter. 12 Oaks Mall pays well above minimum wage. Heck, even the burger king by my house was hiring people in at 10/hour with a friggin’ signing bonus. This is just Novi, too.

Say what you want about whether mass transit is feasible or beneficial to the region OVERALL, but I have no doubt it would help out unskilled labor in Detroit get to these unfilled jobs in the outer burbs.”

The question is, how much longer can we continue to ignore the need for mass transit throughout the region, including Novi. With gas over $3.00 a gallon and climbing, how can we reasonably expect to fill all the service industry jobs available without some form of mass transit. A Free Press article originally published in 1998 could easily have been written today.

GETTING WORKERS TO NOVI JOBS 2 DETROITERS START SHUTTLE SERVICE TO MAKE UP FOR CUTS IN PUBLIC TRANSIT
Detroit Free Press March 10, 1998
JEFF GERRITT Free Press Staff Writer

Frustrated by patchwork regional public transportation, two Detroiters have started a nonprofit foundation to take city workers to suburban jobs.

Attorney Tony Jenkins and job counselor Gary Shelton hope to have at least one leased van running from downtown Detroit to Novi this week to replace an express bus to Twelve Oaks mall that was cut in January.

The Detroit Department of Transportation express shuttle served about 15 workers. The department’s decision to end roughly 20 suburban routes affected about 1,500 Detroiters who traveled to suburban jobs.

Sears at Twelve Oaks is holding open the jobs of the seven Detroit employees left without a ride.

“We want to get these people back to work as soon as possible,” Shelton said. He and Jenkins started looking at Detroiters’ transportation needs after the DDOT cutback.

Meanwhile, some people are questioning the City of Novi ’s decision to snub the suburban bus system by refusing to participate in the transportation millage. SMART won’t run buses into Novi without the money.

“They’re a major employment center and, from an economic development perspective, it absolutely makes sense,” said Jeff Kaczmarek, Oakland County’s director of community and economic development.

Sears District Manager Allen Greenfield called Novi ’s decision shortsighted. Without public transit, he said, stores will feel the pinch.

“We’re continually understaffed and so is the mall,” Greenfield said.

Novi is one of 37 Oakland County communities not served by SMART. The next millage election will take place Aug. 4. To get SMART service, a city council or township board would have to request it by June.

That’s unlikely in Novi , where City Manager Ed Kriewall, Mayor Kathleen McLallen and Councilman Hugh Crawford say they’ve heard little from citizens about bus service. The millage would cost Novi about $700,000 a year.

McLallen said some Novi manufacturers have set up transportation for employees.

Shelton and Jenkins started the People Who Care Foundation to raise money for transportation for Detroiters who need rides to jobs.

Jenkins, a Detroit Urban League board member, said he donated $1,000 to get the foundation started. He and Shelton plan to have one van running from downtown Detroit to Twelve Oaks by Friday. The van would leave Detroit about 8 a.m. and return about 3 p.m.

One 15-passenger van will cost the foundation about $850 a month to lease. Riders will be charged $25 a month. The foundation would pick up the remaining costs.

Janet Jackson, who lost the Sears job she held for 14 months, said she’s ready to go back to work. The east side Detroiter said not having a car has hurt her efforts to find work.

In these difficult economic times, SMART needs to work with local communities on alternatives to a millage to better serve this region. We challenge Hayes Jones and the SMART board to find ways to make it easier to offer services to those who need it the most.

As we roll into another election season, I was recently reminded of the famous quote by Ott Von Bismark:

People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.

The shifting sands of political posturing have never been more evident than in the current Democrat primary race. Both candidates are trying to define and differentiate themselves in a very tight race. Their positions on NAFTA, the War in Iraq, International relations and a host of other subjects seem to morph continually. I suspect the Senator Clinton will ultimately withdraw, but not until after she is able to extract promises in several key areas.

I can hardly wait for McCain vs Obama. It will certainly provide for many opportunities for commentary.

This past Friday, I attended the a District Final basketball game between Novi Catholic Central and Novi High School in a packed gym at Novi High. It was an awesome atmosphere as CC came from behind for a 4 point victory.

Bernie Fratto has written an outstanding piece on Novi.org about the game and other related issues. His observations during the past several weeks have been right on.

A few observations about the game:

Best Cheer - During the game, the extremely vocal CC student section had some excelent cheers. But the one I remember the most came from the Novi side - “We have girls” made me laugh and briefly quieted the CC guys.

Mike Martin - I like to sit in the front row near mid-court to watch folks during the game and have plenty of space (I am not a small guy). Before the game, Michigan bound CC football player and defending 285 state wrestling champion Mike Martin walked past me. This guy is an impressive human being!! At about 6′2″, 260, he has a thick and massive body and I predict we will see him in the NFL after a great career at Michigan.

Thrown Items - During the game, I only saw two things thrown on the floor. After a tough call, a cowboy hat flew out of the stands. The official handed to my wife and she gave it to a school administrator. At the end of the game, somebody threw a banana at the CC bench from Novi side. One of the assistants picked it up and looked disgusted.

Post game - As I was leaving the game, I had a chance to chat with one of the CC assistance coaches. I congratulated him on a great game and we talked about the electric atmosphere and how much fun it must have been for the kids. He was a classy guy.

Awesome night of HS sports.

I woke up this morning, walked outside to get my Sunday paper, started a pot of coffee, scanned the headlines on the front page and dove into my favorite part of the paper - Local News.

My eye caught the headline for an article “Burbs seek convention cash“. The article describes a common theme that the region is lacking in adequate convention space and that there is some activity in the suburbs to address that need. Dearborn appears to be considering using public funds (tax dollars) to build a convention center and is asking for a feasiblity study to be done. There is also mention John Bowden (I am assuming they are talking about John Bowen) of Rock Financial Showplace, about the number of events held and the new hotel being considered.

As I neared the end of the article, I was drawn to a comment by Oakland County Economic Development and Community Affairs Director Doug Smith. The comment reads “But its location — described by Smith as being “in the middle of nowhere” — is an issue. Its space is also geared toward exhibitions, rather than conferences.” Excuse me, did I read that right Mr. Smith? Is this same City of Novi that in the last several years, one out of every four people who have moved to OAKLAND COUNTY has moved to? The same Novi that is the fastest growing area of the county, and one of the fastest growing areas in the state. The same Novi that is home to Twelve Oaks Mall, ITC, Ryder and a host of other corporate headquarters? The same Rock Financial Showplace that his boss Brooks Patterson continually uses in his speeches as a glowing example of what a private business can accomplish with support from the community and region?

First, I want to make something very clear: I like and respect Doug Smith very much. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve with Doug on the Business Roundtable for Oakland County Economic Development Committee and on the Board of Directors of the Woodward Avenue Action Association. He comes from a long background of Economic Development and has generally had a very favorable opinion of Novi.

I was compelled to fire him off this email:

In a Detroit Free Press article Sunday regarding the need for convention space in the region, you are quoted as describing the Rock Financial Showplace as in “the middle of nowhere”. What is that all about?

I certainly hope that this is a comment taken out of context and that Oakland County’s Economic Development leader doesn’t consider Novi or the Rock Financial Showplace to be in “the middle of nowhere”. The article seemed to use you to make make counterpoints against the Rock Financial Showplace. While I don’t disagree that it is a exhibition driven facility, I am not sure why that point needs to be driven home by you.

I was also pleased to hear that Oakland County has no plan to build a convention center. Blair Bowman has proven that a privately funded facility can fill that need at a far lower cost. While I strongly agree we need additional conference space in the region, I would encourage its creation using private investment and not taxpayer dollars.

I hope you have an opportunity to publicly clarify your comments at some future opportunity and that Oakland County will continue its strong support for the City of Novi and Rock Financial Showplace.

The long and short of it is that this is a boneheaded comment that I hope was taken out of context. To call one of the county’s crown gems (and largest taxpayers) “in the middle of nowhere” serves no purpose. I hope Mr. Smith comes to Novi to either apologize or explain the context the comments where made.

== This week the “National Conference of Black Mayors” cancelled its conference scheduled for April, in Detroit ==

Recently I enjoyed a vacation in the California Desert. Unfortunately, the only discussion about our region focused on “text messaging”.

Right before leaving I heard Attorney Sharon McPhail explain that this was the business of citizens of Detroit, not those in the suburbs. It’s simply a matter of trust with the Citizenry of Detroit.

“Who’s Mayor is it anyway?”

Well - -

- Clearly, the mayor is elected by the citizens of Detroit, not by those of us in Novi.

- When you receive your Water Bill, you are a customer of Detroit’s Water Department. The Water Department says they have the regions best interest in mind and fights local communities in court. As a customer, your City of Novi Government has no say in the issue.

- Then of course, there is the current Cobo Issue. As a citizen of the region you are asked to extend taxes to pay for this structure. Detroit City Government is portesting giving up any portion of “control” of this facility even though Detroit and Wayne County retain a majority interest in the proposal.

- Beyond the Tri-Counties Cobo Taxes are levied as well on a state-wide basis. The Detroit facility is supported all the way to the Wisconsin border. Visitors to the Tri-Counties are taxed as well. They don’t have a Mayor in Detroit either.

- Still on Cobo, Wayne County and Detroit is supporting it being a “state tax free” region. If you buy a 40,000 boat at a Cobo Boat show, that would save you $2,400 at 6%. The savings would be in comparision to a purchase at a dealer or perhaps at the Rock Financial Showplace. The Tax Free zone would be subsidized by the state and communities with other convention centers. As a citizen of Novi, you will be asked to pay taxes, and your local businesses will be at a competitive disadvantage. You will have little or no representation.

Alas, Mayor Kilpatrick’s leadership position in this State effects everyone to some extent. It’s especially true in the Tri-County area.

Mayor Kilpatrick will tell you he has the regions best interest in mind and that’s why he’s successful fighting for the City and the North American Auto Show. Supposedly this show is the magnet that attracts other convention business to our area.

Who’s Mayor is it anyway?